Sore shoulders normal?

I will try to work in rotator cuff workouts when I can to help strengthen. Maybe it is RC muscles deep in my shoulders that are sore. I will try to vary the workouts. Swimming is not easy. You may want to check out shoulder exs on www.exercisedb.com lots on that site..Shoulders are a big problem for weight trainees too..and a constant forum topic..

I really don't think your shoulders should be sore all the time. You should swim every other day for awhile and/or mix in recovery only workouts. And lose the paddles. I agree with Gull here...especially since I am just coming off a rotator cuff strain (canoeing injury). Paddles put even more strain on your shoulder muscles. Forget them if you are putting in 20K a week. Also watch for over bench pressing and go easy on the military press.

Fort - could it be that shoulder issues come from over use and or improper technique. My last shoulder problem was in 1964 after a very tough race. I wanted to win the race, I needed the money. The guy in my boat kept putting up a sign saying the others were comming fast. I finished 2 hours ahead of everyone else. He was not my regular boat guy. The rest of that year was a disaster for me, I swam the rest of the races in a very relaxed mode. I won lots of money but it should have been my best year. A lady on my masters team had shoulder surgery and said her problems started after an open water race with rough water, when she got separated from the pack and had to slog it out the rest of the way by herself.

I used to get a little sore after a marathon race, I had a guy who would grab hold of all the tendons and tweak them til the muscles would release. It took two days of heavy masage before I was ready to go at it again.

I have problems w/ impingement when I don't do a long slow warmup, when I do too much kickboarding (I really shouldn't ever pick one up), or when I start crossing-over on my hand entry on the freestyle. It sounds like you're already watching your technique though so things should get better.

It's hard to believe that all these days have gone by and no one has mentioned the fact that swimming with closed fists takes the load off the shoulders. Thus, consistant warmups and warmdowns with closed fists are usually all one needs to prevent sore shoulders. Good for all strokes, feels strange for a while, slows you down only 10%, and increases your number of strokes per length by the same 10%.

I think paddles and closed fists are not needed. Just swim with proper technique.

I bought paddles and are currently leaving them in the bag. I am working the fists into my workouts.

Soreness after excercise is normal. Constant soreness is not. Your pushing hard and increasing your yardage all the time which is fine, but if you don't rest between workouts and allow your muscles to heal, not only will your performance suffer or at best improve more slowly, your training techniques might cause injury.